Car roof construction



March 17, 1936. C. D, BONSALL Hhs Arran/vens.

March 17, 1935.- c. D. BQNSALL.

CAR RQOF CONSTRUTIN Fled Jan, 26, 1955 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Mar. 17, 1936 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICEy Y y f 2,034,374 i s t Y CAR ROOF CONSTRUCTION Charles David Bonsall, Pittsburgh, Pa., assigner to P.v H. Murphy Company, New Kensington, Pa., a corporation of Pennsylvania Application January 26,1935, serial Ng. 3,547 t z2 ciaims.

Heretofore it has been customary to equip box cars withwooden running boards which, in most cases, constituted a dead load on the roof. The principal object of the present invention is to devise a construction wherein the running board becomes an element of the roof structure and as such cooperates with the roof sheets in taking care of the stresses to which the roof as a Whole is subjected. Another object is to devise aroof wherein the running board will add little or nothing to the height of the car.' Other objects are to provide for the useof lighter gage roof sheets than has been feasible heretofore in a roof of equal strength and to'simplify the construction and effect economies in manufacture thereof.

' The invention consists principally in making the running board of sheet metal secured to the roof sheets so as to cooperate together in carrying the roof load.A It also consists in the' combinations and arrangements of parts hereinafter described and claimed. n

' In the accompanying drawings which form part of this specicationand whereinlike numerals refer to like parts wherever they occur,

Fig. 1 is a plan view of a part of a car embodying my invention with part of the running board v*broken away, y

Fig. 2 is lan end elevation of a car with a part of the running board shown in section,

Fig. 3 is a partial cross-section' of the car through a roof rib on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1,

Fig. i is a longitudinalcentral section on the line 4 4 of Fig. 1,

Fig. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary cross-sectional view of a running board saddle and parts welded thereto, n

Fig. 6 is a detail vertical section of the end of the running board and adjacent parts on the line 6-6 of Fig. 2, -j t Figs. 7, 8, 9 and v10 are longitudinal sectional views illustrating divers-"modifications,

In the construction illustrated in'Figs'I--l to 4, the roof compriseswideflat panels at an 'upper level integrally connected,bysubstantially vertical webs 2 with wide flat panels 3 at a lower level, thus forming]y a series of alternating ribs and channels whose ends rest on and are secured-to the side` plates 4 of the car. Roofs of this type, commonly called the neutral axis type;function after the manner of beams with the metal in the upper panels taking care-bf compression stress, the metal inthejlowerpanels taking care of tension stress and thel web portions taking care of the shearing stresses. These stresses are greatest atv the ridge, that is, in the region midway between the side plates that support the roof structure.

In the construction illustrated in Figs. 1 to 4, the ridge portions 5 of the tops of the ribs are made flat and horizontal for a width substan- 5 tially equal to that ofthe running board 6; and from ythese flat metal portions the tops of -the ribs slope downwardly toward the eaves, as shown p atl. In this construction, the running board 6 consists of one or more alined fiat sheets or plates 10 of metal that rest iiatwise onfand are rigidly fastened to the horizontalportions of the roof ribs, preferably by welds 8 that extend continuously along the respective sides of the running board for the'full width of the ribs.- tion, the running board extends continuously 1 across the channels and the portions of the running board above the channels are supported-'by and secured to suitable brackets or saddles 9 that rest on and are secured to the bottoms of the respective channels, as by welds I0 extending the length of the saddle. The saddle or bracket i1- lustrated in Fig. 5 is a Z-shaped member that may be readily made from sheet metal.:

In the construction illustrated in Fig. 4', each 25 Vroof sheet has a single'rib whose width is aboutj half the width of the sheet, successive sheets being welded together along their side margins by continuous welds II that are located at the middle of the adjacent channels. With this location of the vroof seams,it is quite practicable to `secure the sheets together and to the supporting bracket by the same Weld, as shown in Fig. 5. t

In the construction illustrated in Figs. 4 and 7, the endmost roof panel'is at the lower level 35 and the end'portion of the running board issupported above said panel by a saddle or bracket I2 that is Welded or otherwise secured to the end'of the car. This saddle comprises a verticallyvdisposed body portion having a horizon- 40 tal flange I3 at the topthereof onuwhich the running board rests'flatwise and to which it is lsecured by welding or otherwise. The vertical body portion of the en d bracket or saddle has flat-bosses I4 struck up therein to bear against 45 `the end of the car and space the body portion of said bracket far enough away from the car to permit dirt and cinders to pass between them. 'From the 'foregoing vdescription of the'construction illustrated in Figs. 1 to 4, it is ob- 50 vious that the running board is very light, adds practicallyl nothingto the height of the car and, instead of being a dead load on the roof structure, itself contributes greatly to the strength of such structure. In the channel region, the roof In this construcl5 "lengthwise of the roof ribs (that is, crosswise of` vthe car), may be made of an alloy steel, such. for

sheets, the running board and the brackets cooperate after the manner oi' a truss and thereby strengthen the roof. At the same time the portions of the running boards that are welded to the tops of the ribs greatly increase the crosssectional area of metal in the compression region of the roof, considered as a beam. throughout the region of'l greatest compressive stress in such roof beam, that is, throughout the full width of the running board measured crosswise of the car; and the metal of the transverse welds fur` ther increases such cross-sectional area andis especially effective by `reason strength.

The construction illustratetlinA Fig. 7 is 'gen-- ribs by welds 8 extending along .each side thereof and are secured together by Vwelds I6 that also secure together the margins of adjacent sheets.

The welds, especially Athose whichV extend instance,` as nickel alloy steel commonly known as stainless steel, whose compressive strength is used for car roofs. When it is desired to increase `the compressive strength of `the roof rib, the

edges of the roof sheets and likewise the edges of the running board sectionsare spacedapart farenough to receive the required amount of metal in the weld to furnish the additional strength, as shownin Fig. The strength vof the Aseam may be increased by building the weld up vertically above the running board; but it is preferable to widen out the weld so v`as `to avoid formation of a rib `on the top surface of the running board., In the construction of Fig. 7,.

the portion of each running board section above the channel has downturned anges I1 to stiften the running board. Itis also desirable for the spaced apart.

. fiat horizontal middle portions 5 of the roof ribs function as parts of the running board and are connectedtogether by flanged running board sections similar tothe sections shown in Fig. 7 but with their at. end portionsshortened .and In this construction,v there are t two welds i6 extending longitudinally'of the roof ribs and each of them mayk be built up of stainless steel ,to increase the Vstrength ofv the vrib lpreferably also with the intervening welds. Vthe particular design of running board section for resisting compressive stress( Y The construction illustrated 'in Fig. 9 is similar to the construction illustrated in Fig. 8 except that the running board sections are flanged downwardly on the ends as well ason the sides,

said end flanges I8 bearingtagainstthe sides of the channels and being welded thereto. In this construction, thetops vof the running board sections are flush with the tops of the roof ribs and In illustrated in Fig. 9, provision is made for a weld of its superior and extending the full width thereof. This rey inforcing member comprises ailat body portion t,

that rests'ilatwise against the underside of theA roof rib and downturned side and end flanges.

`- The end.v flanges bear against the sidesof the rib andare secured thereto, as by welds 20.

In order to prevent slipping of the braireinen,v

the entiresurface of the running board is roughened or covered with some suitable material (indicated by thes'tippling 1l). For this purrunning board with a heavy coat' of bituminous material and then thoroughly sand it.

WhatIclaimis: y, .l

1. Inv a car roof construction `of the kind wherein flatrtopped ribs alternate, with channels, a ilat-,topped metalrunning board memberextending y*along the ridge of the car and securedy to `said ribs, said member` beingl disposed with one face substantially flush'with the tops of said ribs. y l 2. A car roof construction comprising flat-A ktopped ribs of sheet metal alternating with flatbottomed channels/of sheet metal andfa sheet metal running board secured ilatwiseto the. tops ofsaid ribs. 't

3. `A car roof construction comprising fiattopped nbs oi sheetmetei alternating with fixen:-

bottomed channels of sheet metal fand a sheet metal running board secured iiatwisetoy the ltops oi said ribs by continuous `welds extending crosswise of the car.

pose, I prefer to-paint the vupper surface of the.

4. A. carA roof construction comprising ,fiattopped ribs of sheet metal aternating-with ilatbottomed channels. of sheet metal and asheet nieta] running, board secured ilatwise tothe tops of said ribs by continuous welds extending ci-osswise vof thecar and by continuous V'vlrelds along the sides of said running board.

5. In a car roof construction of the kind wherein fiat-topped ribs alternate with channels, ilat-.topped metal running'board members extending along the yridge of the car and secured to said ribs by welds extending crosswise of the car, said members being disposedl with one face substantially flush with the tops of said ribs.

6. In a carcroof constructionl of the` kind wherein nat-topped ribs autel-nete withfehennels,"ilat-topped metal running board members extending along the ridge of the car and 'secured to said ribs by welds disposed crosswi'se of, the car, said 'members being disposed with one face substantially ush with the tops of said ribs, said kwelds consisting of addedimetal of' suiilcient cross-section to materially increase. the com# pressive strength of thetops of the ribs. A

'7. A car roof construction' comprising lribs alternating withl channels, fthe' fm'iddle portion of the ribs having horizontal tops. and l,sheet metal running board sections spanning the channels with their ends secured to said ribsand with vdowntui'ned side flanges extending lover the channels. t..

8. A car roof construction comprising ribs aiternatingwith channels, the. middle` yportion of the ribs having horizontal tops, and sheet metal running board sections spanning fromfrib to rib withvtheir ends secured together andto the tops of said ribs by welds of added Vmetal'of sufliclent width to materially increase the compressive strength of the ribs.

9. A car roof comprising ribs alternating with channels, the middle portion of each rib having e. horizontal top constituting part of the running board, and metal running board sections substantially flush with the tops of the ribsand rigidly secured to the side walls of the ribs.

10. A car roof comprising ribs alternating with channels, the middle portion of each rib having a horizontal top constituting part of the running board and metal running board sections substantially flush with the tops of the ribs and rigidly secured to the side walls. of the ribs and rib reinforcing members of sheet metal disposed fiatwise against the under surface of the ribs with their ends provided with down-turned flanges which are welded to the sides of the ribs.

11. In a car roof construction of the kind wherein flat-topped ribs alternate with channels, flat-topped sheet metal running board members having down-turned flanges at their ends which are welded to the sides of said ribs with the tops of said sections substantially flush with the tops of said ribs so as to constitute therewith a continuous running board.

12. In a car roof construction of the kind wherein nat-topped ribs alternate with channels, attopped sheet metal running board members having downturned flanges at their sides and ends, the end flanges being welded t the sides of said ribs with the tops of said sections substantially iiush with the tops of -said ribs so as to constitute therewith a continuous running board.

13. In a car roof construction of the kind wherein fiat-topped ribs alternate With channels, flat-topped sheet metal running board members having down-turned flanges at their ends which are secured by continuous welds to the sides of said ribs with the tops of said sections sub- L i stantially flush with the tops of said ribs so as to constitute therewith a continuousrunning board, and an anti-slipping surfacing on said running board.

14. In a car roof construction -of the kind wherein fiat-topped ribs alternate with channels, at-topped sheet metal running board members having down-turned flanges at their ends which are secured by continuous welds to the sides of said ribs with the tops of said sections substantially ush with the tops of said ribs so as to constitute therewith a continuous running board, the upper portions of said flanges being spaced from said ribs far enough to receive sufficient weld metal to materially increase the compressive strength of the ribs.

15. A car roof construction comprising flattcpped ribs alternating with nat-bottom channels, said ribs having horizontal portions at the middle thereof, and a sheet metal running board whose side margins are secured to said horizontal portions by continuous welds.

16. A car roof construction comprising flattopped ribs alternating with fiat-bottomed channels, said ribs having horizontal portions at the middle thereof, a sheet metal running board, longitudinal welds uniting the side margins of said running board to said horizontal portions and transverse weldsl uniting said running board to the side margins of said ribs.

17. A car roof construction comprising fiattopped ribs alternating with flat-bottomed channels, said ribs having horizontal portions at the middle thereof, and a continuous sheet metal running board resting flatwise on said horizontal portions and whose side margins are secured to said horizontal portions by continuous welds, and a bracket welded to the bottom of each channel and constituting a support for said running board.

18. A car roof construction comprising flattopped ribs alternating with flat-bottomed channels, said ribs having horizontal portions at the middle thereof, and a sheet metal running board whose side margins are secured to said horizontal portions by continuous welds, a running board saddle welded to the bottom of each channel and an end running board saddle on the end of the car with means for spacing the body of the saddle from said end.

19. The combination with a car roof, wherein panels at an upper level alternate with panels at a lower level with the endmost panels at the lower level, of a running board and metal supports for the ends thereof, said end supports having a vertical body portion with bosses constituting means for spacing same away from the end of the car.

20. The combination with a car roof, wherein panels at an upper level alternate with panels at a lower level with the en-dmost panels at the lower level, of a sheet metal running board and supports forthe ends thereof, the portion of the running board beyond the endmost upper panel having downturned marginal iianges.

21. The combination with a car roof, wherein panels at an upper level alternate with panels at a lower level, with the endmost panels at the lower level, of a sheet metal running board and metal supports for the ends thereof, the portion -of the running board beyond the endmost upper panel having downturned side flanges and said end supports having a vertical body portion with bosses constituting means. for spacing same away r from the end of the car. i

22. The combination with a car roof wherein panels at an uppenlevel alternate with panels at a lower level, with the endmost panels at the lower level, of a sheet metal running board and metal supports for the ends thereof, the portion of the running board beyond the endmost upper panel having downturned side and end flanges and said end supportsjhaving a vertical body portion with bosses constituting means for spacing same away from the end of the car.

CHARLES DAVID IBONSALL. 

